ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to establish asthma knowledge of parents of children (0-18 years) with asthma at the outpatient clinic. METHODS: A translated and adapted a 21 item Likert type 5 point scale questionnaire (Cronbach's α-coefficient 0.73) was completed by 291 parents of children with asthma. Total asthma knowledge scores were associated with demographic and psychosocial variables. RESULTS: Factor analysis resulted in a new reduced 10 item questionnaire (Cronbach's α-coefficient 0.72). Higher educational level of parents was associated with better asthma knowledge (p < 0.008 and p < 0.003). Parents showed more knowledge (p < 0.001) on non-medication questions. Asthma knowledge of the parent did not correlate with child age, gender, duration of airway problems, time since diagnosis or severity of asthma. CONCLUSIONS: Education of parents concerning the working mechanism, indications and use of asthma medications are an essential part of asthma education. Asthma education should be repeated frequently to parents of children with long-term airway problems or diagnosed asthma. Special attention must be paid to parents with only high school education or less.
Subject(s)
Asthma , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Parents/psychology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Cross-Sectional Studies , Educational Status , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Netherton Syndrome , Parents/education , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
Real-time medication monitoring (RTMM) is a promising tool for improving adherence to inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), but has not been sufficiently tested in children with asthma. We aimed to study the effects of RTMM with short message service (SMS) reminders on adherence to ICS, asthma control, asthma-specific quality of life and asthma exacerbation rate; and to study the associated cost-effectiveness.In a multicentre, randomised controlled trial, children (aged 4-11â years) using ICS were recruited from five outpatient clinics and were given an RTMM device for 12â months. The intervention group also received tailored SMS reminders, sent only when a dose was at risk of omission. Outcome measures were adherence to ICS (RTMM data), asthma control (childhood asthma control test questionnaire), quality of life (paediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire) and asthma exacerbations. Costs were calculated from a healthcare and societal perspective.We included 209 children. Mean adherence was higher in the intervention group: 69.3% versus 57.3% (difference 12.0%, 95% CI 6.7%-17.7%). No differences were found for asthma control, quality of life or asthma exacerbations. Costs were higher in the intervention group, but this difference was not statistically significant.RTMM with tailored SMS reminders improved adherence to ICS, but not asthma control, quality of life or exacerbations in children using ICS for asthma.
